With so many mobile (Android or iPhone) apps being released in such a short period of time, designers need to really create apps that stand out. In this roundup we’re sharing 50 beautiful mobile app designs with excellent UI experience in mind. Also at the end of the post you’ll find some more resources to follow top mobile app design trends.

Mobile apps are even changing the way we design anything nowadays! Everybody is pushing to higher resolution with new retina displays (iPad3) and I believe whole web will get super beautiful and sleek soon enough!

But before it happens we can inspire from these high quality inspirational mobile app designs. It doesn’t matter for which platform you create a design; you can transfer experience from mobile to web, from web to tablets! As you can see even print and web is not so different now. Big typography, textures, images are used everywhere!

Only one big difference in my opinion is touch screens – for mobile and tablets you need to put big attention in UX, usability. Make sure buttons are easy to click; you effectively use touch controls to swipe, expand, minimize with your fingers.

If you are designing mobile apps yourself, I would strongly encourage to download a lot of these apps on your mobile, tablet and play with them!

1WD is passionate about helping the community by sharing information and resources that will make you become a better web design professional. This post is no different as we present you various UI design concepts for mobile screens we have gathered from Behance.

It is no surprise why everyone is going mobile since responsive design has been in the forefront and design isn’t exclusively for the web anymore. Take a look at these different mobile design concepts to give you inspiration and more knowledge of UI design, especially for mobile devices.

Even if you are just designer not developer, you need to plan whole experience with your design. OK, now off to the inspirational part – enjoy this mobile UI inspiration with best mobile application designs in one place!

Which is your favorite mobile app by design and usability? Leave your feedback in comments.

The interface need not be flashy, just the basics the user often looks for

Clarity is one of the essential elements of a good UI design. It should not confuse your users nor give them a hard time figuring out how to use your interface.

And you can find that in this app designed especially for the Arles Festival, which has around a hundred thousand recorded visitors annually since its inception.

Images on top of artists’ name tell a lot about each item

Boxes and fonts are finger and eye-friendly

Angelique Calmon and Juliette Lima collaborated to create this mobile app design with a simple and straightforward interface which leads you only to the most important information about the festival.

Good user interface does not have information overload

Clicking each category leads you to more information. However, it does not give too much, just enough overview to let users know what they are. Even the information for each artist and exhibit doesn’t overload on they whys and whats, just a few sentences to help your users decide whether they want to see it or not.

This mobile design version for an existing website is designed by a group of designers from Ukraine. The app has both an iOS and Android version with a very friendly UI designed especially for the food delivery business.

Edu.ua implements all the functionality of the food delivery service in Ukraine

In order to meet usability standards, the designers conducted an intensive market research and took note of various offbeat ideas. Then, they created and tested an interactive prototype with over 100 wireframes to ensure that the app design meets needs of the client’s business.

The app has flexible filters and smart searches

The mobile app contains hundreds of restaurants all over Ukraine, so the developers put flexible filters and smart searches to enable users to find what they want in restaurants.

To make it much easier to order food, users are guided into 5 easy steps which include: searching restaurants around the city, checking their menu, looking more specifically into the dishes before placing the order, confirming their order and proceeding with payment and delivery options.

The app gives detailed information about each dish

The app also has a reward point, very good UI. Well done.

With these steps, the users are saved the hassle of worrying what type of dish they ordered and the ingredients that go into each dish. This is especially helpful for those who have some specific dietary requirements.

The Workout Book was designed by Yalantis Mobile and Vitaly Rubstov out of their desire to find a workout app with no frills. Unlike other workout apps, the Workout Book easily records your workouts and lets you see all the necessary information at a glance right on the home screen.

The Workout Book is a no-nonsense straight-to-the-point workout app

Each workout has a color tag to let you easily track your workout

Create your own workout with just a flick of your fingers and press save. Customize, set the day, and the targeted area you want to work on. Each workout has a color tag so you can easily look over them and monitor what you have missed.

After you have finished your workout, just do a few taps and you will be able to see the summary of your workout including the weight you’ve carried and the reps you’ve done for each targeted area.

The app uses common mobile patterns

Plot the type of workout you will focus on for the day or for the week.

What makes the Workout Book’s UI stand out is its use of common mobile patterns making even first-time users feel at home. Despite the commonness, the designers translated their own creativity into the app matching users’ expectations.

Whether it’s soccer, basketball, hockey, or American football, you can be sure to find fans – from kids to adults – engaging in fantasy leagues and creating their own dream teams. In fact, fantasy leagues have generated billions of revenue all over the world.

The Fantasy League mobile app is banking on the popularity of this hobby

The rules are pretty simple, and all you have to do is an app which allows you to navigate and monitor your score and stats easily.

Team standings are easy to find and access

The Fantasy Leagues app shows a promising future in the world of sports app because of its simple and easy to understand interface. Swipe between pages to build a team, adjust your line-up, and view game stats.

Swipe between pages to swap teams and players

The app has news feeds for both teams and specific players. The information on each page is short but concise providing you with the latest news and updates.

View player statistics and compare them with each other on one page

Another feature allows you to see how your current game fares well as well as team and player standings. In case, you are not happy with your line-up, you can easily swipe and sort players. Placing them in categories according to their positions makes it easier for you to put “who” in “where.”

Get more in-depth information about your favorite player

There’s also a trash talk feature which works like a Facebook status. Write what you think or feel about a certain player and post it for others to see.

Change is a simple app designed by Linus Lang with an ambitious mission – to help bring change in your community, specifically the people who live in it.

To me it looks like one of the best designed apps from the collection. Read on.

Simple mobile UI navigation, ambitious goal

It tells you the exact location and distance of a person who needed help from your location. The choices are simple and easy – a pop-up will appear and you can choose to view or cancel.

Change wins in both UI and UX

The mobile app encourages “mindful” giving with enough information

If you choose “View,” you will be directed a more detailed profile of that person. If you want to help, you can click “Donate” and type the amount you want to give. Then you can share it on your Facebook profile to inform and encourage your friends to help as well.

Know a person’s exact location

Track how many you’ve helped and how much you’ve given

You can also track how many people you’ve helped, the amount you’ve given, and the money available in your virtual wallet which you can give as donations.

Swing is an iPhone music app designed by Enis Danis with a simple and easy to use interface with only four, big navigation keys – News, Listen, Artist, Video. The “News” section has bigger windows than the “Listen” category. The news is displayed with their headlines and arranged according to their dates.

The red and black color scheme characterizes the app – fun and funky

There are only four categories strategically placed at the top

Each page category is presented differently leaving no room for confusion

If you want to listen to music, your playlist appears and you can scroll down to search for more songs. Then, start listening by tapping the “Play” icon. Your “videos,” on the other hand, will display on a full screen.

The tiles are big enough to give a teaser to the more detailed information

Lift is a self-improvement and coaching app of Lift.do, now Coach.me. Designed by Leigh Taylor, it is geared especially for people who are goal-driven or for anyone who wants to be more productive.

Don’t be fooled by the inbox zero icon

The app’s main page has an indicator to show how much of your goals for the day have been achieved.

The color and the mobile design already energizes you

Encourage and be encouraged

As you tick each finished task, the indicator shows it until you achieve Inbox Zero – goals accomplished. Aside from that, you can also check what your friends are doing and be encouraged if they are doing well, or you can encourage them if they need one.

Monitor your friends’ activities as well and spur each other up

It also gives you tips to help you reach your goals

You can also get tips how to achieve your goals. The app also flashes some encouragement to lift your spirits in order to keep going.

The Weather Tile is an iOS app which got its inspiration from Windows 8 apps so when you glance for the first time, you might think it is a Windows phone. Navigating the app is simple and interesting because of its pastel colors.

See, we saved the best for last, hope you will find fresh inspiration to design your own mobile app after going through this article!

The weather app got its inspiration from Windows.

On the main page, you can find your current location and the weather as well as the key cities in the country making it easier to navigate between locations.

Tablets have bigger tiles than phones

If you click a tile, you will get an overview of the weather for the whole week. You can favorite the location so it appears on your main screen.

You can favorite locations and they will appear on your homepage

The icons automatically change as the weather in that location changes. You can also share it immediately on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Mobile has become the choice of many people when performing their online activities. Therefore, it is advisable that you should consider getting a mobile version of your website. You can get inspiration from these examples or some tips how to create one.

Before we show you more mobile design app inspiration. We created an awesome bonus for you. We invited mobile app design expert to share the biggest mistakes and best tips he knows when designing a mobile app. Read on!

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Based on your feedback we also created web UI kit especially for 1WD readers. We also ensured it’s very affordable, so you can start creating awesome web, mobile and UI designs and concepts today! Check it out!

Over a hundred elements and components in PSD, AI, EPS and Sketch format.

7 Crucial Mobile App Design Tips To Create The Best Mobile App Design

Mobile application design and development has been ‘the thing’ as of late. With the growing prominence of smartphones, more and more applications are developed. It’s like, we have an app for everything, right?

What makes it even more amazing is that this year, the projected number of smartphone users will be 1.75 billion. This staggering number resulted into 2.6 million apps in app-stores (iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows phones combined).

If there is one thing certain about these huge statistics, it would be that mobile application development and design is a big and newly-discovered gold mine to plow. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for developers as mobile apps continue on growing as the age of smartphones conquer the market.

Having said so, we go to the topic of the day. You may have raised your eyebrows when I said that app development is still a relatively new and untapped gold mine. You may have thought of going to the app design and development battlefield.

But, before going to the war, let me brief you with some of the things you should avoid doing.

1. Cramming Too Many Items within the Screen

This is a friendly reminder to app designers. You are designing for a smartphone screen, not a 1366 x 768 desktop monitor. It only means that you have limited spaces to put content.

Do not try to put everything in one place. Trying to compress information within a small screen will be tantamount to suicide. You need to understand how to use elements properly to your advantage.

7 Tips to Keep Mobile UI Clean in Your Mobile Design

When in doubt, page it out. Use swipe-able pages to put all the content you want without cramming the pages.

Make sure elements are tappable. Reserve enough spacing for the user to interact with the element. Remember, you are dealing with non-tactile devices most of the times, so using small elements is a no-no.

Preserve tappable control sizes to around 44×44 points.

Facilitate focus by elevating important content or functions. The most important items should be placed on the upper left half (for left to right cultures) of the screen.

Apply balance and visual weight to make readers understand the hierarchy of element importance. Larger elements are perceived to be more important than smaller ones. You may also want to enlarge CTAs and buttons so that the users can understand that they are tappable.

Use relative sizes. Texts shouldn’t be scrolled horizontally and images that are of utmost importance should be large enough so that the user won’t go into troubles of zooming.

Be consistent. Preserve one brand of design in your app. You wouldn’t want to confuse the users, right?

2. Using Illegible Fonts In Your Mobile Apps

Legibility of texts supersedes other concerns. If you create an app that nobody can read, it will be worthless. Typography has always been a major concern in any field of digital design. Make sure that fonts and the text can be understood properly.

3. Mobile App Design Readability

When we speak of ‘being understood properly’, we mean that the texts should always be readable.

Proper use of proper font faces, sizes, colors

Use of understandable words, good grammar and superb copywriting

A lot of apps sometimes disregard texts, but mind you, they are important because they are the main delivery agents of the messages of your apps.

7 Mobile App Design Tips to Improve Readability in Your UI Design:

Always prioritize the content when tending to text-size adjustments. Not every text falls into the hierarchy of importance. Normally, when users select a large text size, they to make the content easier to read. However, they don’t want everything in the app to be larger.

Make sure that all fonts are legible. If you can’t read it, don’t use it.

Never use a font size lower than 11pt. Always put in mind that users may adjust the accessibility text sizes and app font-size should still be 11pt or higher even if they do.

Headlines and Body texts can use the same size. You can add some distinction on the font weight.

Use only two weights, regular or medium. Never use bold or light-font weights.

Be sure to be direct in instructions. Users don’t want to read your novel, buddy.

4. Be Careful With Colors When Designing Your Mobile App

Colors play an important role in app design. Some app designers tend to just choose the color they want and then design the app. That is a wrong practice. Colors should always help and enhance interactivity and visual continuity in every app.

When choosing the colors for your app, make sure that they jive together. Here is one article which can help you with color combinations.

Focus on color contrasts in different circumstances. Some inexperienced app designers usually make mistakes by not putting enough contrast in the navigation bar background and the bar button tiles. This makes the buttons difficult to distinguish.

4 Tips For Picking Good Colors When Designing a Mobile App :

Use colors with at least 50% contrast differences. Then test the results on a device under different lighting conditions such as indoors and outdoors.

Try looking at the app in grayscale (or desaturated) form. If you have difficulties in differentiating the interactive and the non-interactive elements, then, you need to increase the contrast between them.

Never use the same color in both tappable and non-tappable elements. You should always keep in mind that UI elements that need interaction should always be different from elements that don’t. Make your users know where to tap.

Colors should always enhance the flow of information. Never use it as a distraction.

5. Bad Ad Placements In Mobile App Design

Now, let’s talk about ads. As developers and designers, we would love ads. They make our apps earn without sending the burden to the users. But for regular users who have no idea about mobile app design and development, ads can be very irritating bugs in the UI. Some ads just pop out and shazam!, you’re redirected to the App Store. Now, this is common mistake for new app creators. So, what do you do?

Never use pop-out ads. These are the advertisements that just pop over the entire page. This disturbs the proper flow of information and could distract with the user tapping on the interactive CTAs.

Place ads on creative places. Usually, ads are placed in the least important part of the screen. Normally, a small portion of the lower part of the screen is set for ads. You may want to free up a small space there.

Some ads, especially in games, give bonuses to the players. I guess this, too, is creative.

6. Making the User Wait On Your App

Nobody wants to wait. But some apps need a few moments to load. But you have to be careful about this. Splash screens are risky elements to place in your app.

They are normally annoying because you are accessing the content while someone is waiting for you or the device. If you place a splash screen, make it is short as possible. While you’re on it, make it creative.

7. Too Many Mobile App Notifications

As the designer, you want your app to be noticed and used by people, right? So you might think that you should always remind them that you haven’t used the app in a while? Right? Have you thought of this?

Well, if you are thinking about even doing this, don’t. Notifications, unless they are essential to the users, turn the latter away from your app.

Think of t like this: no matter how nice you try to be, there’s always this one guy who thinks you’re best friends and sends you emails about his life every single hour. Do you even like that random guy? Hell no, right? Then if you don’t like annoying people constantly reminding you, begging for your attention, don’t put them in your apps.

4 Good Tips For App Notifications

If your app is a game, provide bonuses for users who regularly check your app out.

Try to design a better app. Improve your errors; make it more exciting.

Final Thoughts On Designing A Mobile App

App design is not a walk in the park. Like web design, it has its pitfalls. If you continue to keep on committing these mistakes and not even learning from them at all, then you won’t be any good at all. Remember that you should learn from these mistakes and create a better app next time. Happy designing!

45+ Most Popular and Useful iPhone Apps For New Mobile Design App Inspiration

iPhone has gained popularity rapidly and is a must have gadget for nearly everyone now. Even I, an old clumsy Nokia owner, have finally realized it. iPhone is not your typical phone you pull out only to make a call. It can do much more than that. And with over 350 000 apps it would be silly not to fully use the potential this phone’s offering. But which apps to choose and which are worth the money? It can be rather frustrating to pick the right ones for you in all that mess.

This article is here to help you and presents 45+ of the most useful, efficient and awesome apps to keep you on top of the edge every time you use your iPhone – be as productive as possible wherever you go. The apps collected in this article range from advanced bookmarking services to simple photo effect tools. These fantastic apps will help you increase your productivity greatly and get the best from your iPhone. You might ask if you can afford all that? Don’t worry, most of these apps are actually free or at a ridiculously low price for the value you get.

Organizing iPhone Mobile Apps

These apps will help you to organize your notes, photos, bookmarks and synchronize them across your computer and other compatible devices. The USB flash era is over – DropBox is the new ultimate service for transferring files quickly and efficiently.

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. After you install Dropbox on your computer, any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, your iPhone and iPad and even the Dropbox website! With the Dropbox app, you can take everything that matters to you on the go.

inClass, the amazing student organizer, is here to help you survive school. No matter how complex your school schedule is inClass will help you keep track of all your courses and even alert you before class so that you are never late again. Not only that, but it will help you keep track of your tasks by reminding you that one is due soon, so no more procrastination.

Business iPhone Mobile Apps

Take your business with you in your phone. These apps will help you track, manage and take care of your finances and business.

If you use Basecamp, you use it because you want to be productive. You use it because you want a simple solution to what once was a big problem for you. Now, you can use Basecamp on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad just as you’ve always wanted to.

MiniBooks puts the popular web invoicing software FreshBooks in the palm of your hand. Manage your clients, send invoices, run timers, and record payments, all while on the go. Plus, MiniBooks fully synchronizes with your FreshBooks account, so you have access to your account even when you’re off the grid. All this for less than FreshBooks’ monthly subscription fee.

Scanner Pro transforms iPhone into portable scanner in your pocket. It lets you scan multipage documents, email them and even upload to Dropbox, MobileMe iDisk or any other WebDAV enabled server. Evernote integration is there too.

Task Management Mobile iPhone Apps

42tasks is a tasks management and collaboration app, with cloud synchronization. The 42tasks app will boost your productivity. You can organize your to-do lists and tasks, assign them to other people, share projects and view custom reports.

Take your to-do list anywhere with this feature-packed app; never forget the milk (or anything else) again. Remember The Milk (RTM) for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad connects with the popular online service of the same name. With millions of users worldwide, Remember The Milk is everywhere you are: from mobile to the web to apps including Outlook, iCal, Gmail, Google Calendar, Twitter, and more. Learn more at www.rememberthemilk.com

Things is a beautifully focused and amazingly intuitive task manager. Other to-do applications either oversimplify or are too difficult to use. Either way you are not getting stuff done. Things instead has the right balance between ease of use and powerful features.

LocationMinder allows you to set reminder alarms that trigger based on location. Even when the app is not running, you will receive the reminders when you reach the area. Designed specifically to work with a new technology in the iPhone 4 for very low power consumption and high accuracy.

Wunderlist makes it downright simple to organize your daily life. Just create a list and start filling it with things that need to be completed. Keep track of your more important tasks with reminders and notifications.

MobileRSS is a fully-featured Google Reader client for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. We’ve built a ton of powerful and exclusive features onto an elegant and familiar design platform which makes reading the news fun again. We think you’ll like it! This free version of MobileRSS has ads which can be removed by upgrading to the ad-free MobileRSS.

Most Useful Designer Mobile iPhone Apps

Are you an author on Envato marketplace or just need quick access to your FTP server? These apps will suit designers, developers and other creatives who just love to paint on their phone.

Leaflet is an iPhone app designed for Envato marketplace publishers. Keep track of all of your account related information including comments, earnings breakdown, statement list and receive push notifications for both new sales and comments. You can also respond to comments and view individual statement entries all in one beautifully designed interface.

Zen Brush is an app that allows you to easily enjoy the feeling of using an ink brush to write or to paint. It allows anyone to easily perform fluent strokes while not compromising on the fascinating texture of a real ink brush. Create works that radiate the right atmosphere by choosing the best background template from our large collection.

Photography iPhone Apps

Picture can save a thousand words. These apps will help to keep your memorable pictures safe, share them with your friends and enhance them with cool effects right in your phone.

Take all your photos from Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, Tumblr and Dropbox everywhere you go, on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Find the photos you want to see in seconds, edit and crop them or instantly upload the photos you just took with your iPhone to multiple networks without the need to open a new account.

PhotoSync will transform your photo handling forever. It‘s the first app that makes wireless transfer of your photos/videos from or to your computer and other i-Devices – a breeze. PhotoSync also transfers to Dropbox, Facebook, Picasa, Flickr, SmugMug and FTP. You need never use a cable again.

QuickShot simplifies the process of uploading photos to Dropbox. Every picture you take is immediately uploaded without the need for any additional actions. It has all the familiar camera features found in other apps, plus a few not found anywhere else. Queue multiple photos, upload photos in the background, and access all of the standard camera functionality from QuickShot’s simple interface.

Momento is a unique diary/journal writing application which provides a quick and easy way to privately record moments throughout your day. Connect with popular web services, such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Foursquare, Gowalla, YouTube, Vimeo, Digg and Last.fm, to collect and display your online activity as part of your diary.

8tracks is handcrafted internet radio — a “social” alternative to Pandora. Featuring hundreds of thousands of mixes created by people who know and love music, the 8tracks iPhone app gives you easy, free and mobile access to the best collection of playlists on the web.

Bump makes sharing with people as simple as bumping two phones together. Just pick what you want to send, then hold your phones and gently bump hands with another Bump user. And now, you can message with your friends who aren’t near you – just add them as a friend inside of Bump and start messaging immediately — it’s kind of like a long-distance “virtual bump”.

Other & Misc iPhone Apps

All the other fantastic apps that doesn’t fit in any other category. Check out Ben the Bodyguard trailer to find out what I’m talking about.

Fast is an innovative writing system that will save you time when typing your sms, mail, or more generally any text. The feature that differentiates Fast from other writing systems is that Fast learns from what you write, and updates itself by drawing from your vocabulary.

Gas Cubby is the ultimate tool for tracking gas mileage and vehicle maintenance. Whether you’re a hypermiler, or just want a reminder to change the oil, Gas Cubby will save you money and keep your vehicle operating at its peak.

Find My iPhone is free for anyone with an iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later required).* Just sign in with your Apple ID on your qualifying device and turn on Find My iPhone to allow you to locate it. Then use the same Apple ID to turn on Find My iPhone on your other iOS 4.2 (or later) devices including iPhone 3G, 3GS, or iPod touch (2nd generation or later). Find My iPhone is also included with a MobileMe subscription.

Rowmote Pro is the ultimate wireless remote, trackpad, and keyboard. A gorgeous universal app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, with everything from a multitouch trackpad to full extended keyboard support, and with no-configuration control of dozens of the best Mac applications, it is a must-have for any home media center or presentation.

Camera Genius is a camera iPhone mobile application that significantly increases standard functionality. It has separate focus and exposure areas, picture editing tools and effects, social network sharing features and more. Great idea to blend SLR with phone and the UI design is nice and clean.

2. Istid

Overview of the shops selling good quality ice cream. The usability and typography are great.

5. Wieden + Kennedy BlackBook

6. Nike Fuel+ App Concept

Moodswings helps you add and track your daily mood through time and location. Check how people in your neighborhood are feeling and understand the reasons behind your mood swings. Good concept brought to life with a beautiful design.

RaceSplitter is an easy-to-use, yet powerful race timer, that allows you to time a race or training session, and get splits and relative standings while out on the course. Clean interface and great functionality.

Ogorod Stuff is a great way to share pictures of your clothes, gadgets, vehicles and all the other stuff that you use everyday. I don’t see the point of this app but you got to admit that the design is neat and refined.

19. TV App

TV Show tracker app idea with glazed and pixel-perfect interface.

20. WoooBee

WoooBee is a location based service, where you can share the hottest spots in town with your friends and receive discounts. Beautiful color scheme with pixel-perfect elements, yet it looks like the functionality of the app won’t be that great.

21. Probki.tv

Blogging app for those who are unlucky enough to spend their lives in traffic jams. Clean interface with a touch of retro.

Suffering from jet lag? Flying between timezones may cause your biological clock to run amok making you feel tired and disoriented. Jetlag App helps combat these feelings so you can enjoy your trip and be alert all day long. Minimal design with a nice color scheme.

SKTCH is a generative drawing application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Instead of adopting traditional “brush” based drawing, SKTCH is about presets, created by a number of digital artists around the globe. In this app, you’re the designer.